The Infamous Donut - Make Your Mark

Close your eyes and think back to the 60's and 70's. Remember the high-spirited drivers that bought and drove the muscle cars? This may help - -

Donut: Definition - Circular design produced on a road surface by a vehicle's tires when they are rotating with a greater angular velocity than the road under them.

As the name implies, the basic shape is round but many options exist. In fact, even the straight burn out has been called a donut. Spirals, checkmarks, hooks, sweeps, etc. have been chosen to make a statement and named "donut" over the years. Whichever is planted on the road, the car tires must revolve faster than the road surface and leave a lasting mark.

The art of creating donuts dates to the caveman following the discovery of the wheel. Some spirited young man got himself a set of wheels and spun them, making a mark in the dust, thus originating a very simple donut. Later the baker's confection, a doughnut, was named after the original donut because of its shape.

Through the years, "wheels" have become more and more complex so that today all one has to do is mash an accelerator to get the desired effect. All a person must do is climb into an automobile with sufficient torque, cramp the wheels and fully depress the accelerator. One may go with the 180-degree turn, or "bat-turn", or one may stay with the usual 360 degree, full turn donut. This is left to the discretion of the hot rodder. (Note: It was a lot easier a few decades ago when there were no front-wheel drive cars.)

These pleasing circuitous marks are most often seen at intersections or on wide roads, although the art may be performed at any location. The longevity of a donut depends on various factors. When left on cement or asphalt, the duration of the artistic statement can be extended by leaving more of the tire on the road and bonding it with the road surface with high heat. High power and warm weather will allow a large amount of Goodyear to remain on display for extended periods of time.

Longevity of a donut on a gravel or dirt road depends on the frequency of road maintenance, road consistency and the perseverance of the donuteer. For example: If a road only gets graded monthly, is lightly packed with limited traffic, and the artist wants to make a profound statement, he can revolve for several rotations and really carve out a beauty. That being said, he will still tip his hat to the chap that put 20,000 miles worth of tire wear in an expression on a hard surfaced road.

The donut is invariably created at some time in the life of every young driver with a fair amount of horsepower under the hood. Some, of course, employ this means of unparalleled entertainment and thrills more than others. Most, however, will grab their initial "chirp" and retire to a lifelong adventure of sedate driving.

Many young, ace donuteers live just for the thrill of outdoing one another. If Joe Car can go around more times and leave more of his Firestones on the road than Tom Auto, he is the better. The only way to dethrone him as King of the fast turn-about is to plant more rubber on the road with more expression and thus the never-ending circle (pun intended) continues.

This process of getting kicks is much appreciated by the auto repair industry and tire manufactures around the world. Donuteering is frowned upon by fathers, mayors, officials, and elderly people not accustomed to the ear splitting but beautiful scream of tortured rubber being flayed on hard surfaced roads.